In order to characterize the kind of information Vladimir Ilyich received about the activities of the Central Committee, we print below two protocols of Central Committee meetings preserved in Vladimir Ilyich's archives.

## PROTOCOLS OF CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEETINGS

### I.

* MEETING OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE, AUGUST 5 (JULY 21, 1905)*

Present at the meeting on July 21 were: Reinert [A. A. Bogdanov], Schmidt [P. P. Rumyantsev], Yavy [L. B. Krasin], Lyadov, and Delta [E. D. Stasova].

It was resolved to instruct comrade Delta to summon immediately comrade Mouse [P. I. Kulyabko] and to gradually introduce her into the performance of secretarial duties. Upon the return of comrade Ismail [I. A. Sammera], it was decided to divide secretarial duties between him and comrade Mouse.

It was resolved to instruct comrade Reinert to append to the document on negotiations with the Mensheviks a brief justification of the Central Committee's responses, and the document was to be distributed along with it.

It was resolved to send a representative of the Central Committee to the forthcoming conference of committees working among the peasantry.

It was resolved to instruct comrade Lyadov to travel to the Oryol Committee as a representative of the Central Committee to clarify matters raised by the Oryol Committee. The same comrade was instructed to travel to the Tula Committee and to groups of the Urals Committee to ascertain their position with respect to the Third Congress and to inform [them] about the state of affairs in the party.

It was resolved that the present membership of the Central Committee meet with the secretary once a week.

After the secretary's report, comrade Schmidt made a report on sending comrade Blind abroad to inform foreign social-democrats about the state of affairs in Russia both in our party and in other opposition parties. It was resolved to send comrade Blind in the event that no new information emerges from a conversation with the Finn [V. M. Smirnov], which information might alter the entire matter regarding negotiations with Western social-democrats concerning material support for our party. Comrade Blind was allocated 200 rubles for the trip and directed to place himself at the disposal of the Committee of Foreign Organizations to carry out precise and definite instructions.

In order to forestall any reproaches from the breakaway section of the party that authority had been exceeded, it was instructed that any member of the Central Committee reach an agreement with the Organizational Commission to the effect that money collected abroad be divided equally.

Next, comrade Schmidt [P. P. Rumyantsev] reported on commission work in regard to publishing and selling legal books. He noted that new book warehouses existing in St. Petersburg yield large profits and that approximately 2,000 rubles would be necessary for establishing such a warehouse. This expenditure is at present beyond the Central Committee's capacity, but in view of the fact that the matter is very serious and important, comrade Schmidt [P. P. Rumyantsev] was instructed to pass on to comrade Black that he obtain the necessary sum for setting up the warehouse in St. Petersburg, as well as for the legal newspaper and publishing house.

It was resolved to inform comrade Lenin of the commission nucleus that had been created and to request that he undertake nothing for the present regarding the sale of author's rights to any publishers, grant no one general authority, and conduct no negotiations without prior agreement with the existing collegium in St. Petersburg. Comrade Black was instructed to conduct relations in this sphere with local social-democratic organizations, while negotiations with publishers were entrusted to comrade Schmidt [P. P. Rumyantsev].*

Next, it was resolved to reach an agreement with the Mensheviks concerning their attitude toward the State Duma.

The Mensheviks disagree with the view of *Iskra* on the attitude toward the State Duma and will also conduct a boycott.

Comrade Reinert [A. A. Bogdanov] expressed the opinion that immediately upon the announcement of a constitution, it would be necessary to respond to it with a series of protests—that is, strikes, demonstrations, and even armed insurrection. The Mensheviks propose something analogous to the Shidlovsky Commission.

The last matter discussed concerned work among the peasantry. A letter was read from the Moscow District Organizer containing a proposed plan of campaign.2 The general opinion was that at present we can undertake nothing and must wait for the right moment, since during this period of waiting, experience in work among the peasantry will provide us with certain data, which will serve as material for elaborating a definite plan of work. For the present, it was proposed only to establish contact with the union of agronomists and statisticians and to obtain from them data on their work among the peasantry, and also2 to send out to the committees an inquiry concerning their activities in this direction according to a definite program.

A dispute arose as to whether a separate organization should be created for work among the peasantry or whether local organizations should designate a certain contingent of their members for such work. The question remained open and no resolution was adopted.*)

*) Cf. Letters No. 12 and No. 13 on p. 506.

2) The letter was printed in full in *Proletarii* No. 16, dated September 14 (1), in Lenin's article "The Attitude of Social-Democracy to the Peasant Movement." (*Works*, vol. VIII, pp. 181–184.)